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Bemidji State's Katie Pettit passes the ball while being guarded by Moorhead's Brittany Mayclin during the second half Friday night. Mayclin's home town is Bemidji. Pioneer Photo/Eric Stromgren

The Bemidji State University women's basketball team began its home and Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference seasons in grand fashion Friday night at the BSU Gymnasium, falling short in a double overtime thriller against Minnesota State University Moorhead 75-66.

Freshman center Emily Kaus had 10 points and 11 rebounds to post her second consecutive double-double, making her just the 15th player to accomplish the feat in BSU program history.

"Both teams battled and unfortunately we came out on the wrong end," said BSU head coach Mike Curfman. "It was a good game. Our newcomers posted a lot of minutes and I think we can take enough positives from this game to get better down the road."

Both teams started the game slow on offense and the Dragons held a 25-24 lead at halftime.

In the second half, the lead changed six times and the score was tied three times.

A freshman Jessie Althoff free throw with 1:48 remaining in the second half tied the contest 54-54 and that is where the score would stay, as neither team found the bottom of the net before the final buzzer.

The first overtime session saw a back-and-forth game, but only six points a side were scored and the two teams battled into the fourth frame. MSU Moorhead got out to a four point lead in the first two minutes, but BSU didn't want to lose the epic battle and tied the game at 66-66 with just over two minutes remaining.

Unfortunately, those would be the last points the Beavers would muster in the game.

It was an all around effort for BSU in the game as nine different players saw at least 12 minutes on the floor, with seven players recording eight points or more. Junior Anna Hebrink had 11 rebounds, nine points and four assists in the game.

Freshman Katie Pettit had 10 points.

The Beavers will look to rebound Saturday against the University of Minnesota-Crookston at the BSU Gymnasium at 6 p.m.